Definition of "hype"

hype¹

/haɪp/

noun
usually uncountable, plural hypes
1. (marketing) Promotion or propaganda; especially exaggerated claims.
  Quotations
  Don't believe the hype, it's a sequel / As an equal can I get this through to you
  1988, “Don't Believe the Hype”, in It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, performed by Public Enemy
verb
third-person singular simple present hypes, present participle hyping, simple past and past participle hyped
1. (transitive) To promote heavily; to advertise or build up.
  Quotations
  Hydrogen fuel cells are hugely hyped but have yet to prove themselves in the real world beyond a few limited trials or small fleets on the European mainland.
  2023 August 23, Ben Jones, “A Fast Charge to DMUs' demise?”, in RAIL, number 990, page 30

hype²

/haɪp/

adjective
comparative more hype, superlative most hype
1. (informal) Hyped; excited.
2. (slang) Excellent, cool.

hype³

/haɪp/

noun
plural hypes
1. (slang) Short for hypodermic needle.
2. (metonymically, slang, dated) A drug addict.
  Quotations
  The Mob enforced the No-“H” Law. They tortured pushers. They killed them. Local hypes copped in L.A. Local hypes rode the Heroin Highway.
  2001, James Ellroy, The Cold Six Thousand, New York: Knopf, page 90

hype⁴

/haɪp/

noun
plural hypes
1. Alternative form of hipe (“wrestling move”)
verb
third-person singular simple present hypes, present participle hyping, simple past and past participle hyped
1. Alternative form of hipe (“wrestling move”)